Andrew Mills/The Star-LedgerJacques Lemaire said the Devils are growing and need to face a team like Pittsburgh.Jacques Lemaire said the Devils are growing as a team and Saturday night's meeting with the Pittsburgh Penguins will be good for his club.

"We're facing a team that is going extremely well, playing well together," Lemaire said after an optional morning skate at Mellon Arena. "They're playing with a lot of confidence so we'll have to be sharp in every aspect of the game."

There has been no Stanley Cup hangover for the Penguins.

"I guess it's every individual knows what they have to do to be successful," Lemaire said. "And I think they have great leaders, which helps tremendously. When you do have great leaders, the guys that are on the fence have a tendency to fall on the good side. When you don't have these leaders, they fall on the wrong side.

"It seems they have great people and great players that know what they have to do to be successful. The rest of the group just follows them."

Lemaire was looking forward to the game.

"I think this is what we need at this time," he said. "More competition and we'll get it tonight. I think our team is growing, we're getting better. When we do get better it's good to hit teams that are considered top teams in the league. It started with New York and now this team and then Buffalo, Boston. I think it's good."

He said it has taken the Devils time to change from last season under Brent Sutter.

"The way we're playing is, let's say, a little different," Lemaire noted. "Not that much, but I felt in the past this team was coming back all the time to regroup and go five guys. Now we want to move up quick. We want the puck quick. It's a huge difference.

"At the start I could see the guys were a little mixed up. Now I see they've started to understand and they're doing it better and better. It's confidence."

He said the removal of the red line has changed the game.

"The red line makes the whole difference," he said. "You have to try to find a way that will be good for your team. Find ways that you can get more offense. Find ways to get more guys involved in the offense. When you don't have the puck it's the same game. You have to defend."

The Rangers used long passes (no red line) to exploit the Devils several times Thursday night.

"We talked about it," Lemaire said. "And we'll talk about it because this team does it, too. They're good at it."

Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has played well for the Penguins.

"I think last year gave him huge confidence," Lemaire said. "I saw a difference lats year compated to the previous years. You feel that he feels good. When you start to win and beat good teams and you win the Cup, you get to believe in what you can do. He's that type of guy that right now he believes."

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Rookie defenseman Mark Fraser said he was ready to play his first NHL game since 2007.

Lemaire said he'll be used in the third defensive pairing.

"That's how he'll be used and we'll see how he plays," the coach said.

They don't want to throw him to the wolves.

"Not yet," Lemaire said with a laugh.

Fraser sounded confident.

"A few nerves, but I'm ready to go out there and play hard," he said.

What about Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest?

"They're a good organization, a great club," Fraser said. "But, as I said before, I cannot let that be my primary focus. I have to treat every opponent as if they're the same right now.

"I'm just here to prove myself so I can't be looking too much at who it is coming down against me. This is the National Hockey League. Everyone here is a great player."

What has changed for Fraser since his last time with the Devils?

"All that's changed really is I've grown since last time," he said. "I spent the last couple of years in the minors just to fine-tune and complete my game. I think both myself and the organization feel I've evolved. I bring a physical presence and just love to play hard and be solid defensively and tale care of my own end."

He said Scott Stevens, Larry Robinson and Jacques Laperriere all had great impacts on him in Lowell (AHL) last season.

"Scott Stevens I grew up watching," Fraser said. "Any words of wisdom a person like that has you definitely take it well. All these mentors have been great for me to help me complete my game."

He said Robinson has been very supportive.

"One of the things I like working with Larry is he makes it easy for you," he said. "The way he explains it, you get it. And he'll congratulate you for it. Larry Robinson is patting me on the back. Kind of amazing."

He said he hoped to be here sooner, but is happy with his progress.

"I think where I am right now and the road I took, I'm on the righyt path," Fraser said.

He said he was a Blackhawks fan growing up and loved watching Chris Chelios play.